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Bettison's retirement: His role at Hillsborough

A man hangs a flag alongside other tributes placed on the Shankly Gates next to the Hillsborough Memorial at Liverpool's Anfield Stadium. Photo: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

Sir Norman Bettison is to retire as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police after controversy over his role in the Hillsborough tragedy.

A complaint was made to police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) that he had supplied misleading information in the wake of the disaster.

"Recent weeks have caused me to reflect on what is best for the future of policing in West Yorkshire and I have now decided to set a firm date for my retirement of 31 March 2013."

– Statement, Sir Norman Bettison

The IPCC also said that there was a second element to the referral, which related to a statement Sir Norman made in September following the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel.

In the statement, Sir Norman said the Liverpool fans' behaviour made policing the tragedy in 1989 "harder than it needed to be".

His comments sparked fury, and led to calls for him to resign. Sir Norman responded with an apology and said his role was never to "besmirch" the fans and added that the Liverpool supporters were in no way to blame for the disaster.

Sir Norman was a chief inspector with South Yorkshire Police in 1989 but was off duty on April 15 and went to the match as a spectator. Later, he was involved in an internal inquiry held by the force in the aftermath of the tragedy. He has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the disaster.

Questions about Sir Norman's role in the investigation of the tragedy have dogged him as he has risen through the higher ranks of the police - most notably when there were protests from the families of those who died when he became chief constable of Merseyside in 1998.

In his statement, Sir Norman said he hoped his departure would assist the IPCC in its inquiry: "I hope it will enable the Independent Police Complaints Commission to fully investigate allegations that have been raised about my integrity. They need to be fairly and fully investigated and I welcome this independent and formal scrutiny."

The former chief constable of Merseyside had refused to leave his post after the publication of a damning report on the Hillsborough disaster. It laid bare a shocking cover-up which attempted to shift the blame on to its 96 victims.

The inquiry found that 164 police statements were altered, 116 of them to remove or alter "unfavourable" comments about the policing of the match and the unfolding disaster.

Sir Norman previously defended his role in the aftermath of April 15 1989, saying: "I never altered a statement nor asked for one to be altered."

He also said: "I really welcome the disclosure of all the facts that can be known about the Hillsborough tragedy because I have absolutely nothing to hide."